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You would not say he has been a ‘revelation’ or an impact signing or any of the decent qualities used to describe new signings at a club. The greatest credit you would have to not deny the Colombian is that he is just good enough to challenge Szczesny but at the same time, you couldn’t overly trust him more than his younger competitor.

Second half tail-off is worrying

It’s been the pattern over the last five games for Arsenal to score first, dominate the first half and play it out in the second 45 and while the domination part did not quite happen here, the vital nerve-settling goal arrived. However, the second half so a much improved Everton against a team who wanted to preciously avoid being scarred again. It will be nice to see the team show as much endeavour as they do in the opening stages.

Let No one say “Ozil does Nothing”

A modern day footballer really has to be the complete package or risk incurring the savaging review of the press. You have to tackle, run, press, lead, shout, tweet, regardless of whatever the nature of your temperament may be; phlegmatic or choleric. But this could possibly not be true, especially seeing how the likes of Zlatan, Berbatov and a few of their languid class have remained at the top of their game. their managers get other players to play as much as they should so that these ‘lazy’ ones will thrive, and mostly they do.

Two assists did not tell the whole story of his game as he was still sloppy, stroll-wise and into himself but Ozil’s class was the difference today, considering how that defence would have played 7 minutes of stoppage time defending one goal.

That defeat hit fans hard

This is not about the video of the fan chanting Giroud’s name without getting any back up support – that was shameful but still partly explainable. More important was the array of empty seats at the Emirates for what many would have billed a big game to watch. From left to right, front and mid rows, the many shades of red in the stands was not of fans wearing club gear but of vacant seats of disgruntled fans who probably fancied a better thing to do with their Sunday afternoons than come watch their team collapse before their eyes for the second time in a week.

We’ve reached back out to the youth community and our partner and friend at @foxesyouth has come through with a focused piece on two England youth internationals he’s been keeping a sharp eye on. These two players also happen to do something that sets them apart from most; play abroad! Read on.

If you were asked to name England internationals who had played abroad, I’m sure the names David Beckham and Michael Owen would be the first names to spring to mind.

However, let me introduce you to two names you may not have heard of – who will be hoping to make their name outside of their country of birth.

The first is England Under-18 international Taylor Moore – who was born very close to David Beckham’s manor home. He is a six-foot-tall centre backs, also capable of operating in central midfield. His family decided to migrate to France when he was just seven years old and the teenager has been plying his trade for Ligue 1 outfit RC Lens since the age of twelve. He has gone on to collect twelve England youth caps to date – with many more to come.

2014 was a huge year for the seventeen year old defensive midfielder, highlights of which included him being part of England’s Under-17 European Championship winning team back in May and then going on to earn his first professional contract at RC Lens – whilst also training alongside the likes of Senegal international Deme N’Diaye with the French club’s first team.

“Everything has been going great with England and back at Lens. I’ve just been offered my first professional contract with them and have been training with the first-team quite a bit.

“I’ve been enjoying it and learning things every day. The higher the level, the more you learn – so it’s been great,” Moore told The FA’s official website in November 2014.

The second player I will introduce to you is former MK Dons centre back Danny Collinge. The sixteen year old signed for VfB Stuttgart in July 2014 and, like Taylor Moore, settled in to a foreign club surprisingly well. The style of play in German youth football is very different to the Category 3 academy football here in England. However, the change is something that Collinge has adapted to well with Stuttgart’s Under-17 team, resulting in rapid progression for the teenager.

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“I’m having to step up my game a lot more and the standard is high constantly every match so I’m always having to be at my best. And when I come away with England, I come with a lot more confidence and feel that I have more skills at my availability,” Collinge told The FA.

Experiencing German culture has also been something which has aided Collinge’s development. He lives with twenty other boys at the club and is enjoying the adaption to the local culture and language. In the future, he will look to build upon his fourteen England youth caps and eventually go on to make his Bundesliga debut in the near future.

So, be sure to keep your eye on these two young English talents – making a name for themselves across the channel. I would advise you to follow @englandyouth on Twitter to keep tabs on these two young prospects. Also, you can keep up to date at TheFA.com/England.

Euro 2015 is months away. With that tournament, England have the chance to put their stamp on the face of European U21 football. The task of leading the line for the Three Lions out in Czech Republic this summer will fall to a handful of well known Premier League and Championship starlets.

Roy Hodgson is right around the corner from another exhausting year of having to re-prove himself in front of fans and the nation’s media. Whether he gives any credence to the fact he’s being judged, the man with a respectable 56% win-rate and six points clear in his Euro qualifying group will be rolling up his sleeves for six more qualifiers and a handful of glamour friendlies. Not only will he be rolling up his sleeves, he’ll be doing with conviction and a forward thinking mindset.

It seems like an absolute age since the depressing Group D World Cup campaign in Brazil, but there’s been glimpses that Roy has started to steer the England ship back in the right direction. England are not Germany. England are also not Argentina. Englandare, however, at the very beginning of redefining themselves at international level. Hodgson was and never will be the media’s choice, that wooden spoon goes to relegation zoned manager Harry Redknapp, but putting aside media darlings and class favourites Roy Hodgson is essentially acting as an interim-CEO for The FA and England. He’s the government leader who has stood at the helm of a recession, but the man who will escape all the credit for an increase in jobs years down the line. That will instead go to his successor(s).

For a man who is denied three hours with 20 odd players two days before a weekend of Premier League football in order to rejuvenate and appreciate, it’s time we reflect on some of the work that has been done that needs applauding…that dinner is a good start!

Play the kids? He played the kids. He not only played the kids, he completely gutted the squad post Euro 2012.

Reflecting on Italy in Manaus, for example. That was one of the best games of tournament football played since 2006.

A complete integration of the U18s, U19s, U20s, U21s at St. George’s Park.

The little things, like an England XI finally singing the national anthem.

The delegation of power to his senior players allowing cohesion and unity.

GF – 15; GA – 2 since the World Cup. It’s always nice to win, no matter the opposition. Right?

We can gloss over Stewart Downing’s recall, but isn’t it nice to look at the positives for a change? It’s not a comprehensive list and a chunk of it can be argued to death. So what. We won’t be world beaters overnight, but it takes a man like Hodgson to feather in some process, stability and foundation before we can truly pivot and [hopefully] yield results as a footballing nation. Truth be told, Roy‘s biggest hurdle will now be picking a striking partnership. Bring on 2015.

After all the excitement of the final international break of 2014, the England seniors ended up a high. Four games played in total, 12 points secured. The group opens back up again next March at Wembley against Lithuania. Between now and then, it’s probably time to reflect on the top eight things that will surface between now and then…or, to be fair, what will most likely continue to appear between now and Euro 2016.

Wayne Rooney isn’t good enough – The tried and trusted cultural turd. We’re either going to win the universe or we’re absolute rubbish. There’s no middle ground to celebrate one of England’s best ever footballers. Is he the best? Who cares, let’s enjoy him.

Jack Wilshere’s best position is ______ – Andy Townsend thinks it’s deep for England, Phil down the pub thinks it’s at the top of a diamond. This is a debate that will never die. It’ll only get worse. Especially if he has a poor showing against a ‘top team’.

James Milner – There’s a difference between starting Milner against Scotland and bringing him on to sure up a lead. No telling if Roy wants him centrally or out wide, but the Milner conundrum will most certainly come up.

Who is England’s #1 right back? – Well, it’s certainly no longer Glen Johnson. Is it fair to bring Kyle Walker back after being out so long? Don’t forget about Micah Richards!

Who is England’s #1 left back? Leighton Baines, but the better fit for the style of play that England are edging woards is surely Keiran Gibbs.

Phil Jagielka’s future is ______ – Some argue on the bench, some argue back at home, some argue right next to Gary Cahill. He held the record for the fastest Premier League player at one point this season. That says something.

Horrific Cliches – We tried our best to ignore the horrific cliche of “this England team has turned a corner” or that “Roy’s boys are now men”. Shudder. See item number one above for all things brown and coiled, but if we even get close to beating Germany, Italy, Spain or France you know what’s going to hit the headlines.

The U21 Tournament – Undoubtedly there is going to be a pick and mix of players who should never have gone and some who should have gone, but make sure to save room for the ‘was burned out because he played two tournaments’. Never mind the fact they get the same time off as anyone else.

The penultimate tournament test for the England U17s, prior to the U17 Elite Qualifiers in 2015, will take place down in Florida at the end of November. Billed as the Nike Invitational, it will afford this England side retribution against a USA team that trounced them 4-1 at U16 level.

Three teams in five days, the England U17s will play hosts the USA, Australia and Brazil. It’s tails up time for the unbeaten U17s (from October). Check out some goals, including Chelsea’s Jay Dasilva’s barnstorming solo run.

Two matches against a technical Poland side, away from home, is the perfect end-of-year test for the transitional England U18 squad. Playing on the 17th and 19th of November, Neil Dewsnip will pick through several familiar faces in order to ensure there is strong continuation between U17 and U19 levels.

Keeping goal will be Howes and Woodman, with the former already celebrating the signing of professional terms for the Hammers at the age of 17.

Sprinkled across the team are a few players already experiencing or on the cusp of first team football. Due to various circumstances, however, the likes of Cook and Cooke both have been withdrawn.

Liverpool’s Jordan Rossiter made his U18 debut in September, but has once again withdrawn from England duty. His appearance 2 months ago was only his first since October 2013.

With club teammate Demitre Mitchell injured, Marcus Rashford steps in to fill a midfield void, while Evertonian duo Walsh and Kenny also swap out. Max Lowe continues to ensure his season is a positive one after missing the U17 victory parade this past summer due to ankle surgery.